KARACHI, June 7: Market associations and industrialists on Tuesday expressed their apprehensions over some of the decisions taken in the federal budget for 2005-06. Alliance of Market Association Chairman Atiq Mir termed the budget for industrial tycoons, investors, capitalists and offered nothing for common man. “No step has been taken to control the prices of essential items. Besides, the government has not come out with a clear policy how it will tackle the rising joblessness,” he added.

Fixing of minimum wages at Rs3,000 from Rs2,500 will hardly make any difference on the lifestyle of a worker as the amount is not even sufficient to meet food expenses, he said.

“We might have considered this budget people-friendly one if electricity and gas tariffs would have brought down as well as prices of POL products,” Atiq said.

Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Saleem H. Mandviwalla said that some measures should have also been taken to check inflation, which is eroding purchasing power of common man.

He, however, termed the budget as investment-friendly and export-oriented which would enhance the industrial production and increase economic activities.

He said that an increase of 68 per cent in allocation for health sector was a good step provided the use of funds would be in a right direction to improve the healthcare in the country.

All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries President Mashooq Ali Jatoi said that the small traders and cottage industries had been offered nothing in the budget. Besides, no steps had been announced for the revival of sick units.

All Pakistan Marble Industries Association Chairman Sanaullah Khan said that this crucial sector had been ignored despite too many promises made to the marble and granite industry.

Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association Chairman Yaqub Karim appreciated the government for withdrawing of excise duty on soaps and detergents besides cutting import duty on raw materials used in making soaps and detergents.

He said the CBR had replaced the old SRO by new SRO565 whereby the duties on palm stearine, RBD, crude coconut oil, palm crude kernel oil, preslic acid, surface active agent and thiroline powder had been made equal for laundry and toilet soap industry.